ATHENS – Distraught over what he felt was his failure to protect his staff despite taking strict disinfection and health measures, the owner of a nursing home hit by COVID-19 committed suicide, authorities said.

The man, who was not identified, was found dead in his home after having apparently killing himself, a shotgun found at his side, investigators said according to the newspaper Kathimerini.

The nursing home is in the northern Athens suburb of Agios Stefanos where three patients, including an 88-year-old woman taken to a hospital, were found to have been infected with the Coronavirus at the nursing home which has hit at least nine facilities for the elderly. 

The police did not reveal any details about why the man might have taken his life and appear to have ruled out foul play, the paper said but other Greek media detailed he had left a note blaming himself for failing to protect his staff and the patients.